DURHAM, N.C. – Several former standouts have been among the top performers in the WNBA this season. Lindsey Harding, Alana Beard and Monique Currie are each on the ballot for the WNBA All-Star Game. Harding, in just her first year with the Sparks, is flourishing, as she is fourth on the squad in points and first in assists. Meanwhile, Currie has helped the Mystics surpass their 2012 season win total, as she leads the squad in steals. Karima Christmas has been a defensive catalyst for the Fever, as she leads the team and ranks fourth in the WNBA with 1.9 steals per game.

Mistie Bass - Duke ‘06Connecticut Sun, 6-3, Forward2012-13 Stats: 11 games, 5.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG Bass has played in 11 games for the Sun this season, averaging 5.3 points and 15.1 minutes per game. In her top performance of the season on July 2 against the Tulsa Shock, Bass netted eight points and grabbed two rebounds. For the season, Bass owns a .533 field-goal percentage. The Sun are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-8 record.

Chante Black – Duke ‘09 San Antonio Silver Stars, 6-5, Center 2012-13 Stats: 1 game, 2.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG San Antonio signed Black to a replacement player contract on June 21. She appeared in one contest for the Silver Stars, recording two points and two rebounds in 10 minutes of playing time. She was waived by the organization on July 3.

Alana Beard – Duke ‘04LA Sparks, 5-11, Guard/Forward2012-13 Stats: 10 games, 4.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG Beard has played in 10 games in the 2013 campaign in her second season with the Los Angeles Sparks. Beard has scored in double figures in three games this season, including a season-high 13 points in her season debut against Seattle. Beard has been playing well of late, as she has posted two double-figure scoring games over her last four contests. In a July 4 contest against the New York Liberty, Beard recorded 10 points, four assists and two steals in 25 minutes of game action. Beard is on the ballot for this year’s WNBA All-Star Game, as she is seeking her fifth career All-Star appearance.

Karima Christmas – Duke ‘11Indiana Fever, 6-0, Guard/Forward2012-13 Stats: 11 games, 7.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG Christmas played well at the end of June and continues to play well in July for the Fever as she has started six straight contests. She has recorded double-figure scoring in each of her past four contests, including a season-high 16 point and 10 rebound game against Atlanta on June 25. The contest marked her first double-double of the season. Three nights later against Tulsa, Christmas was 4-for-9 from the floor and recorded 12 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes of action. Christmas ranks fourth in the league with 1.9 steals per game.

Monique Currie – Duke ‘06Washington Mystics, 6-0, Forward2012-13 Stats: 13 games, 12.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG Currie has enjoyed a fantastic start to her season, as she is the third leading scorer for Washington this season. She has scored in double figures in nine of her last 12 contests, including four games with 15 or more points. In a June 28 contest, Currie scored 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor, while also grabbing four rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes of game action. For the season, Currie is the 12th leading scorer in the Eastern Conference and is seventh in the league in steals. She is on the ballot for this year’s WNBA All-Star Game, as she is seeking her first WNBA All-Star appearance.

Lindsey Harding – Duke ‘07LA Sparks, 5-8, Guard2012-13 Stats: 11 games, 13.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG In her first season with the Sparks, Harding leads the Sparks in assists per contest and ranks fourth on the squad in scoring. She closed the month of June scoring in double figures in 6-of-7 contests, including a 22 point game in a win against the Mystics. In the contest, Harding was 6-of-9 from the field and 10-of-10 from the free throw line, as she was the game’s leading scorer, while dishing a game-high seven assists. She is 13th in the Western Conference in scoring and third in the league in assists. She is on the ballot for this year’s WNBA All-Star Game, as she is seeking her second WNBA All-Star appearance.

Jasmine Thomas – Duke ’11Atlanta Dream, 5-9, Guard2012-13 Stats: 12 games, 9.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG In her first year with Atlanta, Thomas has started every game this season and is averaging 9.5 points per contest. She has scored 15 points in two contests this season, including one of her most recent games against San Antonio June 30. She leads the Dream in assists per game (3.1) and ranks 13th in the WNBA. The Dream are 10-2 this season and are in first place in the Eastern Conference.

Krystal Thomas – Duke ‘11Phoenix Mercury, 6-5, Center2012-13 Stats: 14 games, 1.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.2 APG, 0.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG Thomas is in her fourth year in the WNBA and is playing for the Mercury for the third overall season of her career. She has reached the scoring column in eight contests throughout the season, including a season-high four points in a 97-81 win over the Sparks on June 14. She is the fourth leading rebounder on the squad, averaging 4.1 per game. She earned her first start of the season Wednesday, finishing with one point and six rebounds in 30 minutes of playing time. Phoenix is 8-6 this season and in third place in the Western Conference.